Tilt truck frame with removable tub

ABSTRACT

A wheeled tiltable structural frame for a tub having components removably interfitting grooves in the tub for supporting the tub within the frame, and cooperating latch means on the bottoms of the frame and tub members comprising a bolt on one member and a cooperating latch on the other member for locking the tub member within the frame member.

United States Patent [191 Brescia TILT TRUCK FRAME WITH REMOVABLE TUE[75] Inventor: Anthony J. Brescia, Winchester, Va.

[73] Assignee: Rubbermaid Commerical Products,

' Inc., Winchester, Va.

[22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1973 {21] Appl. No.: 345,843

[52] US. Cl. 280/47.l2, 298/2 [51] Int. Cl 1362b 3/08 [58] Field ofSearch 280/4712. 47.26, 47.31;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1909 Truxler 280/4726 X7/1930 Parsons r 280/4731 X 7/1938 Roemer 280/4712 [4 1 ,Jan.7,1975

Baker 280/4731 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 719,619 11/1931 France280/4726 925.645 5/1963 Great Britain 298/2 Primary Examiner-PhilipGoodman Attorney, Agent, or FirmHami1ton, Renner & Kenner [57] ABSTRACTA wheeled tiltable structural frame for a tub having I componentsremovably interfitting grooves in the'tub for supporting the tub withinthe frame, and cooperating latch means on the bottoms of the frame andtub members comprising a bolt on one member and a cooperating latch onthe other member for locking the tub member within the frame member.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJAH 71975 SHEET 10F 3 Z illl TILTTRUCK FRAME WITH REMOVABLE TUB BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Certain priorwheeled hand trucks have had sheet metal container bodies fortransporting and dumping materials. and for the sake of reducing weightand increasing maneuverability the container bodies some times have beenmolded of plastic material and bolted to a rugged metal frame supportedon wheels.

However, it is frequently necessary or desirable to remove the tub fromthe frame and replace it with another tub, because of wear or damage tothe tub, or because it may be expedient to store a loaded tubtemporarily while using another tub in the frame. Where the tub isbolted to the frame, it becomes a laborious operation to remove andreplace it. It has been proposed to provide a tub which will fit or dropwithin the frame but the tub must be attached to the frame so that itcan be tilted for dumping without coming loose from the frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved frame and tub construction for a tilt truck whichpermits quick and easy removal and replacement of the tub.

Another object isto provide an improved frame and tub construction inwhich the tub can be dropped into and lifted out of the frame.

A further object is to provide an improved frame and tub constructionhaving novel cooperative latch means on the frame and tub for removablylocking the tub in the frame to permit dumping the contents of the tubwithout removal from the frame.

Another object is to provide an improved frame and tub construction inwhich the frame is forwardly tiltable and the tub is dumped by tiltingthe frame.

A still further object is to provide an improved frame and tubconstruction in which the tub is locked in the frame by novel latchmeans comprising a latch on the tub and a locking bolt on the frameremovably engaging said latch.

These and other objects are accomplished by the improvements comprisingthe present invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown by wayof exam ple in the accompanying drawings, and described in detailherein. Various modifications and changes in details of construction arecomprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation of theimproved truck, showing the tub supported within the frame.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the tubpartly elevated out of the frame.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the frame with the tub removed, on line 4-4of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view on line 5-5 of FIG. 1, showingthe latch bolt in locked position.

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the latch bolt in unlocked position.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 5.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The improved tub indicatedgenerally at 10 may be molded of a suitable plastic material such ashigh density polyethylene. The top of the tub is generally rectangularwith rounded corners as shown in FIG. 2, and a continuous downturned lipflange extends around the rim and includes side portions 11, a rearportion 12 and a front portion 13. Side walls 14 depend from the sideportions of the rim, and the lower parts 14 of the side walls arepreferably undercut or inwardly offset below inclined shoulders 15. Therear end wall 16 depending from rim portion 12 may be slightly inclinedinwardly downward, as shown, and the front wall 17 depending from rimportion 13 is sharply inclined inwardly downward, preferably at an angleof about 38 to the vertical. The lower side walls 14 and the rear andfront end walls 16 and 17 curve into a horizontal bottom wall 18.

Extending continuously through the front end wall, bottom wall and rearend wall are two exterior parallel longitudinal grooves 20 spacedlaterally and equidistant from the center line. These grooves arepreferably rectangular in cross section and form complementary ribs 20on the inner surface. A similar longitudinal groove 21 extendsexteriorly along the center line and forms a complementary inner rib21', except that groove 21 and rib 21 are discontinued in the centralpart of the bottom wall 18, for a purpose to be described.

The structural frame for the tub is indicated generally at 24 andcomprises a continuous upper tubular rim component which issubstantially rectangular in overall configuration with rounded corners,as shown in FIG. 4. The tubular rim is designed to fit under the lipflange of the tub, as shown in FIG. 1, and may be circular in crosssection. Thus the tubular rim has side portions 11A fitting underlipflange portions 11, a rear portion 12A fitting under lip flange rearportion 12, and a front portion 13A fitting under lip flange frontportion 13.

The frame 24 has two continuous tubular compo nents 20A, preferablysquare in cross section, for fitting within the grooves 20. Thecomponents 20A are connected, as by welding, at their upper rear ends toa transverse reinforcing angle 25, which is in turn welded to rear upperportion 12A of the frame. The components 20A are similarly connected, asby welding, at their upper front ends to a transverse reinforcing angle26, which is in turn welded to front upper portion 13A of the frame.

A transverse handle 27, having its curved ends welded to the rear upperportions of frame components 20A, is provided for moving and tiltingtheframe. The front upper portions 28A of the frame components 20A areinclined to fit the grooves 20 in the inclined front wall 17 of the tub,and the front lower portions 29A are preferably vertical so as to extendaway from the front wall of the tub and merge with the lower curvedportions 30A which provide fulcrums about which to tilt the tub andframe forwardly for dumping when the curved portions 30A rest upon thesupporting surface S. g

A transverse axle bar 31, preferably a square tube, is welded to theundersides of the bottom portions 32A of frame components 20A, andwheels 33 are journaled on the ends of said axles, under the inwardlyoffset shoulders 15 of the tub side walls and adjacent to the curvedfulcrum portions 30A of the frame. Rearwardly of the axle bar 31 are twospaced-apart transverse tubular bars 35 and 36 having their ends weldedto the undersides of the bottom frame components 32A, and a castermounting plate 37 is bolted to the undersides of said bars 35 mediallyof the components 32A, a caster 38 being swiveled on said plate.

The center groove and rib 21 and 21 are interrupted at a point adjacentto the forward transverse bar 35, and a latch plate 40 is bolted to theunderside of bottom wall 18 between said bar 35 and the adjacent end ofgroove 21 by bolts 41 (FIGS. and 6). The latch plate 40 has a sleeve 42secured on its underside for slidably receiving the inner end of a latchbolt 43. The latch bolt is slidably mounted in two spaced tubular lugs44 and 45 welded to and projecting forwardly from the bar 35. The outerend of the bolt 43 has an angularly bent handle portion 46.

A helical spring 48 surrounds the bolt 43 between the lugs 44 and 45 andnormally urges the bolt into latching engagement with sleeve 42, asshown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the spring being compressed between lug 45 and awasher 49 on the bar. To unlatch the bolt, it is pulled out of thesleeve by grasping handle 46 and compressing the spring. A lock bar 50is provided on the bolt near the handle so that when the bolt is pulledout of the sleeve, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, by rotating the bolt 90the inner end of the bar 50 will be made to abut the lug 45 and hold orlook the bolt in unlatched or released position.

To remove the tub from the frame it is necessary only to release thebolt 43 and rotate the handle 90 to lock the bolt in unlatched position,whereupon the tub may be lifted upwardly out of the frame. When the tubis replaced the handle is rotated 90 to unlock the bolt, which snapsinto latched position by action of the spring.

It will be seen that an improved and inexpensive frame and tubconstruction for a tilt truck has been provided which permits quick andeasily removal and replacement of the tub by merely manipulating thenovel latch means and requires no tools or special skill.

I claim:

1. ln combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supportedtherein, said frame having an upper rim and at least one componentextending downwardly from the front and rear of said rim and having acon necting bottom portion, said tub having a rim flange carried on therim of said frame and having depending front, rear and bottom wallssupported on said frame component, and cooperative latch means on thebottom portion of said frame component and said tub bottom wall forlocking said tub in said frame.

2. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported inthe frame as defined in claim 1, said tub having grooves formed in itsouter surface and said frame having components removably interfittingsaid grooves.

3. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported inthe frame as defined in claim 1,

in which the latch means comprises a bolt on one member and acooperative latch on the other member.

4. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported inthe frame, as defined in claim 2, in which the latch means comprises abolt on one member and a cooperative latch on the other member.

5. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported inthe frame, as defined in claim 1, in which a latch is mounted on saidtub and a latch bolt normally slidably engaging said latch is movablymounted on said frame, spring means urging said bolt into engagementwith said latch, and a lock bar on said bolt adapted to abut said frameto hold the bolt in disengaged position.

6. ln combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported inthe frame, as defined in claim 2, in which a latch is mounted on saidtub and a latch bolt normally slidably engaging said latch is movablymounted on said frame, spring means urging said bolt into engagementwith said latch, and a lock bar on said bolt adapted to abut said frameto hold the bolt in disengaged position.

1. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported therein, said frame having an upper rim and at least one component extending downwardly from the front and rear of said rim and having a connecting bottom portion, said tub having a rim flange carried on the rim of said frame and having depending front, rear and bottom walls supported on said frame component, and cooperative latch means on the bottom portion of said frame component and said tub bottom wall for locking said tub in said frame.
 2. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported in the frame as defined in claim 1, said tub having grooves formed in its outer surface and said frame having components removably interfitting said grooves.
 3. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported in the frame as defined in claim 1, in which the latch means comprises a bolt on one member and a cooperative latch on the other member.
 4. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported in the frame, as defined in claim 2, in which the latch means comprises a bolt on one member and a cooperative latch on the other member.
 5. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported in the frame, as defined in claim 1, in which a latch is mounted on said tub and a latch bolt normally slidably engaging said latch is movably mounted on said frame, spring means urging said bolt into engagement with said latch, and a lock bar on said bolt adapted to abut said frame to hold the bolt in disengaged position.
 6. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported in the frame, as defined in claim 2, in which a latch is mounted on said tub and a latch bolt normally slidably engaging said latch is movably mounted on said frame, spring means urging said bolt into engagement with said latch, and a lock bar on said bolt adapted to abut said frame to hold the bolt in disengaged position. 